We have arrived to the California Riverside Mission!

Well, we have arrived in the California Riverside Mission! President and Sister Mullen met us at the Ontario Airport. 

Ah, the arrival from Salt Lake City to Ontario Airport

We traveled to the Mission Office where we met all of the senior couples from the Mission, the Assistants, and the Office Elders. 

President and Sister Mullen, President and Sister Hammon, Senior Couples, Assistants, and Office Elders

Plus, the “exchange of power” happened: the handing over the phone from President Mullen to President Hammon. Once the exchanged happened, we all went to lunch and then to the Mission Home where the Mullens exchanged information and gave us last-minute instructions before they left. After all this, hopped in their rental pickup and were off, leaving us standing in the driveway, waving and wondering: “I guess we are it.”

President and Sister Mullen and President and Sister Hammon: The Exchange of Power

On Saturday evening after we arrived, we went with Elder Parson, one of the Assistants, and Elder Osberg, a Zone Leader, on a missionary split. We had a great time with them. We spoke a lot of Spanish, taught a lesson to a young man named Alex, gave a blessing, picked up two or three potential investigators, visited a member family who had a referral, and arrived back to the Church late.

Los Hammon with Elder Ly

What an incredible week we have had, traveling to all the zones and introducing ourselves to all of the missionaries and they introducing themselves to us during the "Meet the President" tours! They are wonderful, and our love for them grew! We thank the Assistants, Elder Parson and Elder Anderson, for being our guides and GPS. They are dedicated young men. We'll will have a picture of them soon. We appreciate all of the Zone Leaders who put together the agendas. A special thank you for the incredible musical numbers! We truly felt special being among the missionaries. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hermana Flores, Hermana Garcias, y los Hammon

Sister Hammon and I had the privilege of speaking in the Lincoln YSA and Corona wards on Sunday, July 9, 2017. We felt the spirit. I had a “teary” challenge in the Corona Ward. Probably one of the most spiritual things happened just before I spoke. A Sister Dike sang “Oh, That I Were An Angel” while Sister Whittaker played the piano. The moment she began, I started to tear up. I have a history with that hymn. I was serving in Puerto Montt, Chile, where Sister Palmer who composed the song came to pick up her son Elder Palmer. Sister Palmer told us the story about the creation of “Oh, That I Were An Angel” and then sang it to us at Zone Conference. Touching! She gave us all a signed copy. Then, when I arrived home from Chile, my cousin’s wife sang it at my homecoming. When Sister Hammon and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting before we left to serve here in the California Riverside Mission, we asked our home teacher and another brother in our ward to sing it. Amazingly touching! I said to Sister Dike: “Sister Palmer would have been proud of you. You were inspired to sing this today.” Again, a continuing touching scene.

Sister and Brother Larsen in 2012. I wish I had a picture when she came to Chile! (Elder Larsen, do you have one?)

We had baptisms —Sunday, July 9, 2017. Anthony from the Young Single Adult Ward (YSA was baptized. Elders that worked with Anthony included (from left to right): Elder Goodrich, Elder Yeaman, Elder Langley, Anthony, Elder Anderson, and Elder Murphy. Incredible young men! Incredible examples!

Los Misioneros--The Missionaries who helped teach Anthony

The mission home is lovely. Here are some outside photos and flowers around the Mission Home:

Bougainvillea bushes along the road to the Mission Home

Gorgeous sunset from the backyard of the Mission Home

One part of the backyard

We are loving being here. The "Meet the President" tour was incredible because we met our wonderful and dedicated missionaries in the California Riverside Mission!

Stay tuned for more!